For a city that's had its share of legal battles the past year alone, maybe the time is right to have a legal mind sitting in a council seat.

At least that's what attorney John Stephens thinks. He's kicked off his campaign for council with a website, and is already fundraising with a goal of $100,000.

Stephens is a Democrat but doesn't think party affiliation should be a factor in this non-partisan council race.

At 49, he and his wife, Amy, have been married for 26 years. They've lived in Costa Mesa for 23 years, raising their four children ranging in ages from 11 to 20.

He's coached kids' baseball and softball, and volunteered at his church -- St. John the Baptist.

Up until now he's only followed city politics at a distance.

But things have changed.

Stephens says the current City Council has divided the community, acted hastily, and disregarded community input.

"The result for the community has been careless and costly mistakes, mistrust, and misconduct," he told me "Our community has become polarized. Rational discussion has given way to partisan posturing. I want to change that."

Every candidate I've interviewed has one defining issue that prompts them into political action. For Stephens it was the proposed city charter.

"I fought against the proposed Charter because, among other problems, the Charter has language that exposes our city to favoritism, fraud and corruption in public works contracts," he said. "When the City Council missed the election deadline, I along with school board Trustee Katrina Foley, intervened to ensure that our City Council follows the rules, and the court ruled in our favor."

A partner in the business litigation law firm Stephens Friedland LLP, I asked him if having an attorney as a council member wouldn't just promote more problem solving through litigation.

He disagreed.

"I could do a much better job for the community and bring balance so we are no longer a city of litigation and confrontation", he told me.

He says his clients hire him to make good decisions after they've made bad ones.

He feels his business litigation background would be an asset to the council.

"When you talk about control over your city, you have the least control when decisions affecting your city are made in court," he says.

Stephens tells me decisions should be made "allowing discernment from the community where all viewpoints are considered."

We spoke the day after Costa Mesa had signed the Banning Ranch agreement, giving away their rights to oppose the project or future litigation.

Stephens was still reeling over the decision. He called the wording in the agreement "wiggle lawyer language" and strongly objected to it in public comments.

"When all of these issues were brought up in front of council it was a telling moment. I don't know how this contract got to council without proper attorney review. The city attorney says it was reviewed, but if there was a review, how come so many questions?" he said.

Stephens also has strong opinions on the city's lawsuit involving the employee association lay off issue.

"In fiscal 2012 the city was billed approximately $ 900,000 from Jones Day and hasn't gone to trial yet," he said. "At each stage the city has lost in court. And it all comes back to a decision they made against their own city attorney's advice."

Stephens says what disturbs him most about the employee litigation is that city leaders are defending a bad decision.

"As a golfer when you stand over a ball you have a strategy. You weigh the range of consequences of the shot and make a commitment. If the ball goes down the fairway, that's OK. But if it doesn't, you figure out what you do next and at least you are at peace with your game," he said.

Stephens says it's the same with the litigation. City leaders should have re-evaluated their move as the court ruled against them -- moving to the negotiating table rather than continuing in court.

I asked if he was prepared for an ugly race. Politics in Costa Mesa can be messy.

Stephens responded, "I m a litigator and trial lawyer -- I deal with conflict all the time."

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